The green biosynthesis of metal nanoparticles of already explored phytomedicines has many advantages such as enhanced biological action, increased bioavailability, etc. In this direction, keeping in ...view the peculiar medicinal value of
L., we synthesized its silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) by adopting eco-friendly and cost-effective protocol by using methanolic and aqueous extract of
. The synthesized AgNPs were characterized by using several techniques including UV spectroscopic analysis, FTIR analysis, and atomic force microscopy. The methanolic/aqueous extracts of
and synthesized AgNPs were assessed for antioxidant potential and antimicrobial effect. The preliminary screening showed that the
extracts have variety of reducing phytochemicals including tannins, terpenoids, flavonoids, and cardiac glycosides. The green synthesis of AgNPs was confirmed by the appearance of sharp peak at 430–450 nm in the UV-Visible spectra. The FTIR spectral analysis of extract and AgNPs exhibited that peaks at 2947.23, 2831.50, 2592.33, 2522.89, and 1,411 cm
disappeared in the spectra of FTIR spectra of the AgNPs, indicating carboxyl and hydroxyl groups are mainly accountable for reduction and stabilization of AgNPs. Atomic force microscopic scan of the synthesized AgNPs confirmed its cylindrical shape with size of 25 µm. The extracts and AgNPs were investigated for antioxidant potential by DPPH-free radical essay, which showed that aqueous extract has significant and dose-independent antioxidant activity; however, the synthesized AgNPs showed decline in antioxidant activity. The extracts and synthesized AgNPs were also evaluated for antibacterial activity against
,
, and
Neither extract nor AgNPs were active against
The aqueous and methanolic extract exhibited inhibition against
and their synthesized AgNPs were active against
Our data concluded that the extracts of
have necessary capping and reducing agents which make it capable to develop stable AgNPs. The aqueous extract of
has potential antioxidant effect; however, the AgNPs did not enhance its free radical scavenging effect. The bacterial strains’ susceptibility of the extract and AgNPs was changed from
to
, respectively. The biological action of AgNPs is changed in case of antibacterial activity which means that AgNPs might change the specificity of
and likewise other drugs.
Iron oxide nanoparticles have garnered significant interest in recent years due to their diverse applications, particularly in the therapeutic field. We present a green synthesis method using the ...extract of
, the production of iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs). The successful synthesis of IONPs was confirmed by UV–visible spectroscopy, revealing the characteristic peak at 295 nm. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy were employed to elucidate the functional groups involved in the synthesis and characterize the morphological features of the nanoparticles. Subsequently, the synthesized IONPs were subjected to biological assays to assess their anticancer, enzyme inhibitory, analgesic, and sedative activities, following standardized protocols. The IONPs exhibited potent anticancer activity against the MDR 2780AD cell line, with IC
values of 0.85 (extract) and 0.55 (iron oxide nanoparticles). Remarkable inhibitory effects were also observed against urease (IC
= 12.98 ± 0.98) and xanthine oxidase (IC
= 96.09 ± 0.65). Additionally, they demonstrated moderate carbonic anhydrase II inhibition, with 42.09% inhibition at a concentration of 0.25 mM. Furthermore, the extract and IONPs demonstrated a significant analgesic effect in a dose-dependent manner, while the sedative effect was also significant (
< 0.001).
This study was aimed to evaluate the efficiency of
and nucleotides- supplemented diets to improve immune response and cold-tolerance of juvenile
. Four treatments were evaluated: T1, the control, ...shrimp received only a basal diet; T2, a basal diet with 500 ppm nucleotides; T3, a basal diet with 500 ppm
powdered; T4, a basal diet with 500 ppm nucleotides and 500 ppm
powdered. Shrimp were fed experimental diets for 56 days. Results revealed shrimp fed T4 diet exhibited the best significant improvement in water quality, survival, growth, and feed utilization indices followed by T2, and T3, while T1 showed the worst values. Additionally, nonspecific immune responses (phagocytosis (%), lysozyme, phenoloxidase, super oxide dismutase (SOD) activity, total nitric oxide) were improved with 1.7-3.2-fold in T4 higher than T1. Histomorphology of hepatopancreas in T4 showed the most increased activation of the hepatic glandular duct system compared with the other treatments. Moreover, nucleotides/seaweed-supplemented diets upregulated relative expression of
,
, and heat shock protein70 (
) genes, while translationally controlled tumor protein
was downregulated. In conclusion, the synergistic effects of both
and nucleotides have many advantages as a growth promoter, immunostimulant, antimicrobial, and cold-tolerant stimulant to
.
Lettuce is one of the most famous leafy vegetables worldwide with lots of applications from food to other specific uses. There are different types in the lettuce group for consumers to choose from. ...Additionally, lettuce is an excellent source of bioactive compounds such as polyphenols, carotenoids, and chlorophyll with related health benefits. At the same time, nutrient composition and antioxidant compounds are different between lettuce varieties, especially for green and red lettuce types. The benefit of lettuce consumption depends on its composition, particularly antioxidants, which can function as nutrients. The health benefits rely on their biochemical effect when reaching the bloodstream. Some components can be released from the food matrix and altered in the digestive system. Indeed, the bioaccessibility of lettuce is measuring the quantity of these compounds released from the food matrix during digestion, which is important for health-promoting features. Extraction of bioactive compounds is one of the new trends observed in lettuce and is necessarily used for several application fields. Therefore, this review aims to demonstrate the nutritional value of lettuce and its pharmacological properties. Due to their bioaccessibility and bioavailability, the consumer will be able to comprehensively understand choosing a healthier lettuce diet. The common utilization pattern of lettuce extracted nutrients will also be summarized for further direction.
In this work, we investigated Diospyros kaki extract and an isolated compound for their potential as xanthine oxidase (XO) inhibitors, a target enzyme involved in inflammatory disorders. The prepared ...extract was subjected to column chromatography, and dinaphthodiospyrol S was isolated. Then XO inhibitory properties were assessed using a spectrophotometry microplate reader. DMSO was taken as a negative control, and allopurinol was used as a standard drug. The molecular docking study of the isolated compound to the XO active site was performed, followed by visualization and protein–ligand interaction. The defatted chloroform extract showed the highest inhibitory effect, followed by the chloroform extract and the isolated compound. The isolated compound exhibited significant inhibitory activity against XO with an IC50 value of 1.09 µM. Molecular docking studies showed that the compound strongly interacts with XO, forming hydrogen bond interactions with Arg149 and Cys113 and H-pi interactions with Cys116 and Leu147. The binding score of −7.678 kcal/mol further supported the potential of the isolated compound as an XO inhibitor. The quantum chemical procedures were used to study the electronic behavior of dinaphthodiospyrol S isolated from D. kaki. Frontier molecular orbital (FMO) analysis was performed to understand the distribution of electronic density, highest occupied molecular orbital HOMO, lowest unoccupied molecular orbital LUMO, and energy gaps. The values of HOMO, LUMO, and energy gap were found to be −6.39, −3.51 and 2.88 eV respectively. The FMO results indicated the intramolecular charge transfer. Moreover, reactivity descriptors were also determined to confirm the stability of the compound. The molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) investigation was done to analyze the electrophilic and nucleophilic sites within a molecule. The oxygen atoms in the compound exhibited negative potential, indicating that they are favorable sites for electrophilic attacks. The results indicate its potential as a therapeutic agent for related disorders. Further studies are needed to investigate this compound's in vivo efficacy and safety as a potential drug candidate.
Emodin is a naturally occurring anthraquinone derivative with a wide range of pharmacological activities, including neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory activities. We aim to assess the anticancer ...activity of emodin against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in rat models using the proliferation, invasion, and angiogenesis biomarkers. After induction of HCC, assessment of the liver impairment and the histopathology of liver sections were investigated. Hepatic expression of both mRNA and protein of the oxidative stress biomarkers, HO-1, Nrf2; the mitogenic activation biomarkers, ERK5, PKCδ; the tissue destruction biomarker, ADAMTS4; the tissue homeostasis biomarker, aggregan; the cellular fibrinolytic biomarker, MMP3; and of the cellular angiogenesis biomarker, VEGF were measured. Emodin increased the survival percentage and reduced the number of hepatic nodules compared to the HCC group. Besides, emodin reduced the elevated expression of both mRNA and proteins of all PKC, ERK5, ADAMTS4, MMP3, and VEGF compared with the HCC group. On the other hand, emodin increased the expression of mRNA and proteins of Nrf2, HO-1, and aggrecan compared with the HCC group. Therefore, emodin is a promising anticancer agent against HCC preventing the cancer prognosis and infiltration. It works through many mechanisms of action, such as blocking oxidative stress, proliferation, invasion, and angiogenesis.Emodin is a naturally occurring anthraquinone derivative with a wide range of pharmacological activities, including neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory activities. We aim to assess the anticancer activity of emodin against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in rat models using the proliferation, invasion, and angiogenesis biomarkers. After induction of HCC, assessment of the liver impairment and the histopathology of liver sections were investigated. Hepatic expression of both mRNA and protein of the oxidative stress biomarkers, HO-1, Nrf2; the mitogenic activation biomarkers, ERK5, PKCδ; the tissue destruction biomarker, ADAMTS4; the tissue homeostasis biomarker, aggregan; the cellular fibrinolytic biomarker, MMP3; and of the cellular angiogenesis biomarker, VEGF were measured. Emodin increased the survival percentage and reduced the number of hepatic nodules compared to the HCC group. Besides, emodin reduced the elevated expression of both mRNA and proteins of all PKC, ERK5, ADAMTS4, MMP3, and VEGF compared with the HCC group. On the other hand, emodin increased the expression of mRNA and proteins of Nrf2, HO-1, and aggrecan compared with the HCC group. Therefore, emodin is a promising anticancer agent against HCC preventing the cancer prognosis and infiltration. It works through many mechanisms of action, such as blocking oxidative stress, proliferation, invasion, and angiogenesis.
In the current study, the bottlebrush
Callistemon viminalis
(Sol. ex Gaertn.) G. Don plant was selected for the green synthesis of silver (Ag) and gold (Au) nanoparticles and to evaluate its ...antibacterial and antifungal activities. Phytochemical screening of
C. viminalis
confirmed the presence of alkaloids, anthraquinones, saponins, tannins, betacyanins, phlobatanins, coumarins, terpenoids, steroids, glycosides, and proteins. To characterize the synthesized Ag and Au NPs, UV–Visible spectroscopy, FTIR spectroscopy for functional group identification, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) for particle size, and elemental analysis were performed using EDX. The UV–Visible absorption spectra of the green-synthesized Ag and Au nanoparticles were found to have a maximum absorption band at 420 nm for Ag NPs and 525 nm for Au NPs. FE-SEM analysis of the synthesized NPs revealed a circular shape with a size of 100 nm. Elemental analysis was performed for the synthesis of Ag and Au NPs, which confirmed the purity of the nanoparticles. The greenly synthesized Ag and Au NPs were also evaluated for their anti-bacterial and anti-fungal activities, which exhibited prominent inhibition activities against
Escherichia coli
,
Staphylococcus aureus
,
Klebsiella pneumoniae
,
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
,
Candida albicans
,
C. krusei
,
Aspergillus
sp., and
Trichoderma species
. The highest zone of inhibition 15.5 ± 0.75 and 15 ± 0.85 mm was observed for Ag NPs against
E. coli
and
P. aeruginosa
. Similarly,
Trichoderma
sp. and
Aspergillus
sp. were inhibited by Ag NPs up to 13.5 ± 0.95 and 13 ± 0.70 mm. This work will open doors for the development of new antimicrobial agents using green chemistry.
Dracaena cinnabari (D. cinnabari) is an endemic plant located in Socotra Island, Yemen. Deep red resin attained from different plant species including D. cinnabari is commonly known as dragon’s ...blood. In folk medicine, it is prescribed for the treatment of traumatic dermal, dental, and eye injuries as well as blood stasis, pain, and gastrointestinal diseases in humans. Numerous studies have investigated that this resinous medicine has antidiarrheal, antiulcer, antimicrobial, antiviral, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, wound healing, and antioxidant activity. Several phytochemicals have been isolated from D. cinnabari, including the biflavonoid cinnabarone, triflavonoids, metacyclophanes, chalcones, chalcanes, dihydrochalcones, sterols, and terpenoids. The present review highlights the structures and bioactivities of main phytochemicals isolated from D. cinnabari regarding the botany and pharmacological effects of the resin derived from this plant.
Pistacia chinensis is locally practiced for treating diabetes, pain, inflammation, and erectile dysfunction. Therefore, the current studies subjected the crude extract/fractions and the isolated ...compound (2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-7,8-dihydroxy-3-methoxy-4H-chromen-4-one) to α‐glucosidase inhibitor and anti-glycation activities. The development of long-term complications associated with diabetes is primarily caused by chronic hyperglycemia. Regarding α‐glucosidase, the most significant inhibitory effect was observed with compound 1 (93.09%), followed by the methanolic extract (80.87%) with IC50 values of 45.86 and 86.32 μM. The maximum anti-glycation potential was shown by an isolated compound 1 followed by methanolic extract with effect inhibition of 90.12 and 72.09, respectively. Compound 1 is expected to have the highest gastrointestinal absorption rate, with a predicted absorption rate of 86.156%. This indicates oral suitability. The compound 1 is expected to have no harmful effects on the liver. In addition, our docking results suggest that alpha-glucosidase and isolated compounds showed strong interaction with ILE821, GLN900, and ALA901 residues, along with a −11.95 docking score.
Pistacia integerrima Stew ex Brandis is a valued medicinal plant used for curing various diseases such as diarrhea, fever, liver disorder, pain, asthma, and inflammation. The aim of this study was ...the isolation of bioactive leishmanicidal agents from the methanolic extract. The methanolic extract led to the isolation of flavonoids 3,5,7,4/-tetrahydroxy-flavanone (1). The extract and isolated compound 1 were tested for antileishmanial effect. The extract showed a percent effect of 63.09 with an IC50 value (49.32 µM). The isolated compound 1 was more leishmanicidal than the extract with a percent growth inhibition of 68.09. We have performed docking studies on two antileishmanial targets; homology modeled dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) and pteridine reductase (PTR1) from Leishmania major (L. major). Interaction with important residues of the studied enzymes revealed the possible mechanism of in-vitro activity against promastigotes of L. major.